The Thrifty Gardener

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Are your hand pruners rusty? Crusty? Squeaky? Blunt? Have you tried to clean and sharpen, but it's just not doing the trick? If you're anything like me, I've been doing my best to keep my hand pruners (or secateurs) clean and sharp without disassembling. I was afraid I'd lost a small part, put the pieces back in the wrong order, or just plain old break them.

These instructions are writtenfor Felco bypass pruners, but you should be able to adapt for similarFiskar or Corona bypass pruners

Well, I'm here to tell you that it's not rocket science folks. I've seen the light, and it's time to clean your pruners. Let me show you how. Remember, there are step-by-step photos in the "Pruner Maintenance 101" album on the Plante on Plants Facebook page. It may help to follow along.

Felco bypass pruners are one of the most common types of secateurs used in the horticulture industry. That's why the images and information in this blog post will be customized for Felco users. However, if you have any Corona or Fiskars pruners that are professional grade (not covered in plastic), then this information can be adapted for you.

If you're not a Felco fanatic, don't despair. When I get home from my internship with Kew, the first thing that I'll do is use these methods to clean my Corona and Fiskars pruners. I'll try to remember to take photos and update this.

To clean your hand pruners, you'll need

Your hand pruners

An appropriate screwdriver, or the handy Felco adjustment key that came with your pruners

Lay your secateurs on the table so that the hand lock is facing upwards. Start by removing the bolt on the right handle. That's the one that isn't attached to the lock. If you have your maintenance tool, lay the appropriate sized hole over the bolt to loosen. Remember, "lefty loosey, rigthy tighty". When loose, place the tool on its side into the top grove of the bolt to remove. Set the bolt and the small piece from beneath the bolt in a small cup or box so they won't get lost.

A Felco adjustment key will come in handy.If you lost yours or don't use Felcos, substitutewith a small screwdriver and wrench

Next, use a small hand wrench or your Felco tool to remove the large bolt that holds the two handles together. A quarter or half turn should loosen the bolt sufficiently so you can finish unscrewing with your hands. Set the bolt, the grooved circle, and the cover aside in your cup.

Now you should be able to carefully separate the two handles. Once they are side-by-side, you can gently remove the spring that connects the handles. Set the spring aside.

Finally, remove the blade. It should be attached to the left handle that has the hand lock. Be careful as it is probably sharp.

Cleaning

Use the dry cloth to wipe off as much soil and grime as possible from all pieces of the secateurs. Apply a small amount of soapy water to the cloth and try to scrub off as much soil and grime as possible. Use the steel wool to remove all remaining grime. Wipe off one more time with the dry section cloth. Make sure there are no bits left that are wet from water. Clean tools and happy tools, so do your best to make these sparkle.

Follow the steps outlined inthis section to clean your pruners

Next, grab the piece of yarn or pipe-cleaner and the spring that connected the handles. Run the yarn or pipe-cleaner though the center of the spring. Rotate the spring so the yarn rubs against the whole inside surface of the spring. That should remove the dirt that has collected inside. Repeat as many times as necessary.

Once all the pieces are clean, use a small amount of the 3-in-one oil to lubricate all moving parts and pieces that rub together. Don't forget to add a bit to the spring too. Use a corner of the dry cloth to clean off excess oil. A small amount of oil should go a long way here, so try not to overdo it.

Sharpening

By now your blade should be shining clean and ready for sharpening. You only should sharpen the side of the blade that has a beveled edge. The flat side should not be sharpened. When you identify the beveled bit, you'll be able to see that that is where you need to regain your edge.

Only sharpen along the beveled edge

Use the sharpening stone of your choice. Kew uses a wet stone, but I use a small inexpensive hand sharpening stone at home. With some minor differences, this process should be relatively similar despite the type of stone. You should run the beveled edge of the blade along the stone slowly and deliberately. Try to maintain a smooth edge without chinks or gaps. When the blade is sufficiently sharp, stop. If you overdo it on sharpening, then you'll need to order a new blade much sooner than you would need to otherwise.

Give the blade a final pull across the stone so the whole length of the edge is pulled along the stone. This should pick up any small shards of metal lingering on the blade.

Put the pieces back together

This step can be a bit tricky. It's almost as easy as just walking back through the earlier disassembling steps, but there are a couple spots to look out for.

As a reminder, start this process with the handle that has the lock on the left and the other handle on the right. Reconnect the handles with the spring, place the blade back on the left handle facing the correct direction, and reconnect the handles with the bolt through the back.

Before finishing tightening themain bolt, place the left two spokesof the lower claw in the gear piece. If noneof that made any sense, check out theFacebook album for more.

Place the base-plate, gear and the bolt cap over the main bolt. Make sure the lock is in the grove on the base-plate that lies below the gear. Turn the bolt cap until it is finger tight. Don't fully tighten yet, but this should be tight enough so the wrench or Felco tool only need a quarter turn to finish.

Line up the small piece from below the right handle's bolt with the hole for the bolt so that only the two left-most groves fit in with the gear. Place the bolt in the hole and make it finger tight. Use your small wrench or Felco tool to turn the large connecting bolt a quarter turn or so. The gear should pull the claw piece into place.

Take your time and do this as many times as necessary until the piece is in a spot where the pruners will function. If you're having trouble, this would be a good time to stop, wash your hands, and enjoy some milk and cookies, then come back and finish.

And... voila!

Congratulations! By this step you will have disassembled, cleaned, sharpened, and reassembled your pruners. Try them out a bit. Keep an eye out for these common mistakes:

Forgot to oil!

The main bolt is too loose so the handles wiggle

The main bolt is too tight so the pruners don't move easily

The lock isn't lined up in the right place and the pruners won't lock shut

The claw isn't in place with the gear

If any of these happened to you, you'll need to partially disassemble, fix, then reassemble. That's nothing to be ashamed of -- it happens to the best of us. If you start to get frustrated, take another break for milk and cookies.

I wish I'd had this information years ago. A little maintenance knowledge could have saved me from dully, dirty, poorly maintained tools. When your tools are clean and sharp, they last longer. When they're dull, dirty, and you don't know what to do about it, it's tempting just to buy another set. This exercise may be a bit frustrating and somewhat time consuming, but it will save money and give you a sense of pride in your tools when you're done.

Thanks for reading!

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please feel welcome to leave a comment or send me an email.

To see more photos from this week, be sure to check out the album "Pruner Maintenance 101" on the Plante on Plants Facebook page. "Likes", shares and comments are appreciated.Have you ever had a maintenance activity go terribly wrong? Do you have any tips, feedback or advice? I want to know! Please share your experience by commenting.

Friday, November 1, 2013

After 1 month in the worm compost bin, the
few raggled receipts that remain are illegible

If you're like me, you're wary of throwing away or recycling paperwork and receipts that contain sensitive information. I used to hoard my old documents until I had a large, lopsided stack that had eaten half of my desk. Then I would have to find a shredder or a place to burn them. I was actually saving up money to buy myself a paper shredder, before I had a stroke of genius. Compost!

Traditional composting can be somewhat time consuming and expensive. If you're an apartment dweller like I am, composting the old fashioned way just isn't possible. My compost solution has been to convert a couple rubbermaid bins into a worm compost system.

As of this month, my system has been in place for a whole year. I haven't had any problems with bad smells, bugs, or mess. The population of worms has exploded, and I've had two harvests of black gold (aka vermicompost). To learn more about the benefits of vermicompost and how to make a worm compost bin like mine, read my earlier post "Clean, Simple and Inexpensive Composter -- A Rare Combination of Words".

Composting your sensitive documents is a breeze -- especially if you use a worm compost system. Just lay your papers along the top of the compost bin, beneath a layer of newspaper or cardboard. You can rip up the papers a little if you want, but if you have an active worm community it's not really necessary. If your compost is a bit dry, moisten the paper with a spray water bottle. Close the lid and let the worms work their magic. In a few short weeks, your worms will have eaten up your paperwork and converted it into rich, nutritious compost.

Whenever I'm doing a gardening workshop, I joke around that compost is the solution to everything. As time goes by, it becomes less of a joke and more of a reality.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

This small and simple mini aquaponic
system is the perfect size for classrooms,
offices, or a sunny windowsill at home.

What I love about aquaponic systems is the versatility there is. Really all you need for a successful system is water, plants, fish, oxygen (and maybe some worms). This allows for creativity and flexability in construction. Some systems are massive and produce as much food as a farm. This system is little. It's the perfect size to use as a demonstration of the concept of aquaponics.

A smaller aquaponic system works well near a sunny classroom window. Students can use the system for experiments, and they can learn a lot about concepts like botany, symbiosis, the water cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and technology. Aside from using the system to meet state and common core standards in lessons, the presence of plants indoors has been shown to increase productivity and reduce stress. Having live plants in the classroom would benefit the students and the teachers.

Not a teacher? Not a problem. An aquaponic system is like a living piece of art. It can beautify your workplace or residence, and stimulate conversation with coworkers and visitors.

What is an aquaponic system?
Plants are grown hydroponically without soil. Instead of adding fertilizer for the plants, fish live in the water reservoir for the plants. Through the power of the nitrogen cycle, when fish release waste into the water, they supply nutrients for the plants. In return, the plants keep the water clean for the fish.

To build this mini aquaponic system, you'll need:

Depending on the scale of your new mini-aquaponic system, your components should come to somewhere between $15 and $30.

Start by rinsing out the aquarium, gravel, and small container with clean water. Put a layer of gravel on

Oxygen is important for a successful aquaponic system.
Add a pot or jar to protect your betta fish from the current.

bottom of the aquarium, and add water. Place the small container on the gravel in the aquarium. This will provide a place for your betta fish to rest without getting pulled into the current of the air pump.

In the corner of the aquarium lid, there will be a little circle in the grating. Use a nail to open that hole. Put together your air pump, stone, check valve and connective tubing as per the manufacturer's instructions. Run the connective tubing through the new hole in the aquarium lid. This will hold your air stone in place. Turn on the air pump. You should see bubbles come out of the air stone.

Allow the water to cycle for 24 hours before adding the fish. This should allow the chlorine in the tap water to evaporate. If you are using water from a rain barrel, you don't need to wait before moving to the next step.

Day 2

Add the betta fish to the aquarium. If you have worms, you can add them to the aquarium at this time. They will tunnel in the gravel and consume the solid fish waste. Don't be alarmed if your fish eats one or two worms while you're adding them to the aquarium.

Remove the plastic cover from the aquarium lid. If you are using a strawberry basket, put it through the opening in the lid to make sure that it fits snugly. If you are using a foam egg carton, use scissors to cut the carton to fit snugly in the opening. Use scissors to punch small holes in the bottom of each section of the egg carton. The basket or carton should touch the water of the aquarium, but should not fall in through the opening.

Add plants to the basket or carton. Pull some of the roots out through the openings in the bottom of the basket or carton. Add gravel around the plant in the basket or carton. Check to make sure each plant's crown is not covered by the gravel. Adjust as needed.

Place your planter snugly in the lid. Check to make sure the bottom of the planter or the plant roots are touching the water.

Ongoing Maintenance

To feed the fish, you can pull up the side of the lid that does not have the air pump, or you can remove the planter and add food through the opening. Add water to the aquarium as needed. Replace dead plants as necessary (it may take a few tries to get a plant to thrive).

In conclusion...

Again, if aquaponics are anything, they are versatile. If this system doesn't work exactly right for you, make modifications.

Trial and error are an important part of
creativity. I went through a bit of failure
before finding a system that worked.

For example, one of my good friends is a school teacher. She attended one of our "Gardening in the Classroom" sessions where we showed teachers how to build one of these mini systems. She already had an aquarium in her classroom and wanted to add plants without having to build a new, separate system. She used a foam egg carton planter, but found that the planter was too small to fit snugly in the top of her aquarium. So she used pipe cleaners to secure her planter to the edge of her aquarium. What a great idea!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

There are so many different ways to grow a garden, from traditional furrow beds, to window boxes and everything in between. My absolute favorite way to grow annual veggies is in a raised bed planter.

A very manageable size raised vegetable bed at
Austin-East High School

What is a raised garden bed?
Raised bed gardening is easier on my knees and back because I don't need to bend over nearly as far to plant, weed, water, or harvest. There's also typically less weeding in a raised bed situation because it is difficult for creeping weeds to sneak into the garden from the sides.

There's more than one way to build a raised garden, and a variety of raised bed kits are available online or through local garden centers. However, kits can be expensive and some may even be more difficult to assemble than constructing your own. It can be difficult for home gardeners to choose a style or to decide whether to buy a kit or design and build themselves. For this reason, some people never make it past the planning stage stage.

If this is the year that you're finally going to build a raised garden, then I suggest starting with this very simple and inexpensive plan. All you really need is some lumber, posts, and soil to get started. Sounds easy, right?

I prefer rectangular beds to square beds because it's easier to reach the center of the bed. If you have to climb into your raised bed to work (as is the case for many square beds greater than 4 feet long), that kind of defeats the purpose.

Feel free to modify the length, width, and height of your bed as you see fit. To change height of your bed, consider using 2x4s or 2x10s instead of 2x6s as I have.

If you're not comfortable with cutting your own lumber, most box stores will cut your lumber order for you at a very minimal cost.

Laying out lumber before building can help you picture
what the garden bed will look like after construction

Traditionally, pressure treated wood has been avoided because it would leach arsenic into the soil. Today, arsenic is no longer used to treat most lumber. Instead, pressure treated wood contains copper, which has some fungicidal properties for plants and should have a minimal affect on the garden. However, any sort of pressure treated wood is not recommended for organic gardening. For more information about using pressure treated wood in the garden, "Are Pressure Treated Woods Safe in Garden Beds?" is a helpful article.

Soil

15 cubic feet of topsoil, or a volume appropriate to your bed. To find the amount of soil you'll need, multiply the width of the bed with the length and height of the bed (ex. 3 ft x 5 ft x 1 ft = 15 cubic feet).

Less than 30 cubic feet of soil can be conveniently purchased in bags from your local garden center or box store. If a larger amount of topsoil is needed, consider ordering by the truck instead of bags.

I prefer only put one nail or screw in a boardat first, so that I can move the lumber a bitif I need to make adjustments.

Lay your lumber on the ground where you would like to build your raised bed. Step back and visualize what the garden will look like once it's constructed. Will your garden get enough sunlight? Most vegetable plants will need six or more hours of direct sunlight a day. How far away is the closest water source? Are you on a slope?

When you have decided on a final location, mark the corners of where your bed will go. Before construction, the grass or other plants that are already on the site will need to be killed or removed. For smaller beds, it will be relatively easy to remove weeds with a flat edge shovel. You should be able to scrape up the plants (roots and all), leaving bare soil. Killing the weeds is an alternative to removing them mechanically. The weeds can be killed with horticultural vinegar, a broad spectrum herbicide, or even boiling water.

Once your bed is clean of existing plants, it's time to dig your post holes. If you don't have a post hole digger, a shovel will do.

Construction is pretty simple -- put the posts in the holes, and nail on the sides. This method can be a little bit sloppy; so I prefer putting the bed together in phases. First, build the ends of the bed. Nail or screw the two shorter boards to the posts for each side. It helps to just add one screw or nail at first, so the boards will be a little moveable. This way you have a little wiggle room if the bed needs to be adjusted a bit.

I prefer to build the ends of the bed first

Place the end of the bed in the post holes. Are the ends straight? Are the holes deep enough? Make any necessary adjustments, then attach the sides of the bed. Go back and add the second screw or nail to each board so your garden bed will be more sturdy.

Once the bed is built, fill soil back around the posts and press firmly. Add topsoil, plants, mulch and voila! You have successfully completed your raised bed garden!

Friday, January 11, 2013

Building a terrarium is a fun and inexpensive
way to garden. Create a living centerpiece.

A terrarium is like a miniature greenhouse, where plant
specimens grow inside a glass container. Really any kind of clear glass container can be turned into a terrarium. You can purchase a vase or fish bowl, or repurpose a bottle or jar from your recycling bin. Probably the most fun thing about building terrariums is the idea that there are endless possibilities, and creativity and imagination are the only limiting factors.

Xeric refers to an environment that has very little moisture. Plants that are native to the Mediterranean region or the American Southwest would be considered xeric plants. Cacti and succulents are xeric plants that store water in their fleshy leaves and stems. In terrarium gardening, xeric plants are best suited to life in an open container. Terrariums that don't have an opening for air build up too much moisture for xeric plants to thrive in. This means if you plan on creating a terrarium from a bottle or jar, plan on leaving the lid off so that humidity won't build up.

Terrariums make a great living centerpiece. Building a terrarium can be a fun and inexpensive project for rainy days. Even children that may not connect with traditional gardening can get excited about making a terrarium.To create a xeric terrarium, you'll need

Sketch out what you'd like your finished terrarium to look like. Where do you want decorations? Where do you want your plants to grow? Keep in mind the size, color, and texture of elements you'll be using when drawing your design.

Take some time to plan before you plant.

Clean the glass of the container that will become your terrarium. If you're repurposing an old jar or bottle, make sure it's free of any food and drink residue. If the glass is already pretty clean, wipe off dust and fingerprints with a moist rag.

Add gravel to the bottom of the terrarium. The amount of gravel you add depends on the size of the container. Shoot for anywhere between 1/4 inch to 1 inch. If the container has a small opening, a funnel may come in handy. Gravel is essential to a xeric terrarium, because unlike planter pots, your container probably won't have holes in the bottom to drain excess water. The bottom layer of gravel will allow water to collect below plant roots, hopefully preventing root rot. Remember, cacti and succulents that are native to dry areas don't like "wet feet."

Shake some activated charcoal onto the gravel and mix. Again, the amount of charcoal you add varies by the size of the terrarium. Shoot for 1 teaspoon - 1 tablespoon. Charcoal will help absorb odors and prevent mold and bacteria from growing. Some older sources on terrarium gardening say that it's possible to use charcoal from a fireplace. If using fireplace charcoal, be sure to crush well before using. (If you've done this before, please leave a comment about your experience.)

Add your sandy soil mixture. Shoot for 1/2 inch to 2 inches of soil. It helped me to spread a thin layer of soil, add plants, then add more soil instead of trying to dig holes in a tiny glass jar.

Add large plants first, then smaller specimens.

Add plants. Keep in mind that given time plants do grow, and space accordingly. If the container is difficult to get in to for maintenance, consider adding fewer plants. Succulents can grow very easily by breaking off a leaf or stem. For example, if you only have one pot of a particular succulent, and you want to grow it in multiple terrariums, you can divide the plant or break off leaf or stem sections to plant in your new terrarium. If your container has a small opening, tongs, tweezers, chopsticks or a pencil may come in handy to place the plants.

Add sufficient soil to cover the plant roots, then cover with gravel. The top layer of gravel really gives a finished look that soil alone does not.

Add decorations. Depending on what materials you're using for decor, you may want to place before planting. I prefer to visualize where they'll be placed while planting and add afterwards.

Water the plants. Be careful not to over-water because there's no drainage holes. If you have a spray bottle, mist thoroughly.

Place your terrarium in a sunny location that isn't in direct light. That means, the best spot for your terrarium is on a table near a sunny window. With a little love, attention, and time, you'll have a beautiful living centerpiece.

Friday, December 21, 2012

As an apartment dweller, traditional gardening is difficult for me for the simple reason that I don't have any space to plant. Bending down to weed and dig in the soil can also be hard on the back, knees, and other joints. A living wall, or vertical garden, is a great way for those with space or physical limitations to garden. A vertical garden can be hung on or propped against a wall inside or outside the home, and when working with a living wall, there's decreased need to bend down.

Choosing the right system

Many vertical gardening systems can be difficult to construct, and kits can be expensive. If Pinterest is any indicator, repurposing old pallets to create a living wall is gaining in popularity, and there are many different styles to choose from. With so much variety to choose from, it's difficult to know which methods are solid designs for long term growth and what designs are just a flash in the pan good for a month or two before literally falling apart.

Earlier this year I built a couple pallet living walls using the steps outlined below. It took only a few hours to construct and the materials were fairly inexpensive. After nearly a year the planters are still solid and the plants are continuing to grow.

Pick your favorite side of the pallet to be the front. Use the hammer to pull the planks off the back of the pallet.

Save one of the planks and drill several holes across the bottom. Attach the drilled plank to the bottom of the planter. This will hold the soil in the planter and allow water to drain.

Landscape fabric will hold soil inside of the living wall. Attach the landscape fabric to the planks inside of the pallet. Be sure to secure the fabric across the front and sides of the inside of the pallet. Staples may be the most effective way to secure the fabric, but nails or screws will work in a pinch.

Lattice will provide support and prevent the fabric and soil from spilling out of the planter. Attach lattice with screws to the front planks of the living wall.

Fill the planter with topsoil or garden soil. If possible, allow the soil to dry out before this step. The drier the soil is, the easier it will be to lift the planter. I wouldn't recommend using potting soil or seedling mix. Potting soil will break down and compress over time, pulling plants down into the planter and requiring the addition of more soil to fill in.

Attach the plywood back of the planter with galvanized screws. Your planter is almost complete!

Have a friend help hang the planter on a wall, or secure over a ledge before planting. This step is important because you do not want a heavy living wall to fall down on you.

Cut through the landscape fabric to plant.

Through gaps in the lattice, cut a hole in the landscape fabric. Securely place a plant in the hole and make sure that soil is firmly packed around the roots. Repeat this step until the living wall is completely planted.

Maintaining the vertical garden

As in any garden, water is a big consideration for your living wall. Water daily until the plants are established. Water from the top of the planter and into each plant's hole in the landscape fabric. When designing your pallet planter, consider adding drip irrigation tape, soaker hose, or another sort of irrigation pipe inside of the planter with the soil. In my experience, once the plants -- especially drought tolerant herbs -- are established, the planter will require less attention to water.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

As an experienced gardener, I'm telling you that composting can be a messy, smelly process. If you don't have the yard space for a large compost pile, or if you're just looking for a simple, clean, inexpensive system to recycle a few banana peels and coffee grounds, worm composting (or vermicomposting) is for you.

Red wigglers are excellent composting worms that will thrive in your bin.

Nightcrawlers don't thrive in confinement and will find a way to escape. They're also not great for composting.

Worms hand-dug from the garden probably won't be suited for life in a compost bin either.

Some other tools that may be helpful:

a power drill

1/4-inch drill bit

1/16-inch drill bit

Building the vermicompost bin

Drill holes for drainage and ventilation

Select one bin to begin with. Using the 1/4-inch drill bit, drill about 20 or so holes in the bottom of one bin. Be sure to space holes evenly along the bottom of the bin to ensure adequate drainage. A moist but well-drained bin is the key to prevent worms from drowning and to keep moist compost from becoming smelly from anaerobic bacteria.

With the 1/16-inch drill bit, drill ventilation holes along the top edge of the same bin. Try to space the holes about every inch or so. These small ventilation holes will provide air flow into the bin without allowing worms to escape from the sides.

Place the scrap wood inside the non-drilled bin close to the corners of the bin. Place the bin that has holes inside of the bin, lifted up by the pieces of scrap wood. This will allow the compost bin to drain excess water without making a big mess on the floor.

There's no real rhyme or reason to adding the remaining components. My preference is to repeat layers like a lasagna inside the bin until the contents are a few inches below the ventilation holes, like so:

I prefer to layer leaves, paper, and soil

Moist cardboard,

Moist page of newspaper,

Autumn leaves,

Soil,

Moist shredded paper,

Soil,

Worms,

Moist cardboard,

Moist page of newspaper

Secure the lid and you're ready to compost!

What to feed the worms

To feed your worms, lift the top layer of cardboard and newspaper. Bury the food to prevent fruit flies from finding it. Avoid over-feeding your worms to prevent fruit flies and other pests from becoming a problem. As with any compost situation, try to maintain 30 times more "brown" material (like paper and autumn leaves) than "green" material (food scraps).

My completed vermicompost bin

Worms should only be fed plant-based scraps like apple cores, tea leaves, carrot tops, and dead leaves from houseplants. Worms should NOT be fed any salty food or animal products like meat, fat, or manure. Exercise common sense -- what would you want to eat if you were a worm?

Future expansions

When your worm population grows, you can add additional bins. Prepare the second bin with drainage and ventilation holes. Use the 1/4-inch drill bit to make holes in one lid. Stack the bins where the lid with worms is between them and the non-drilled lid is secured to the top bin. Worms will be able to travel through the holes between the bins. Add food to the top bin and the worms will create more vermicompost in the bottom bin. After the vermicompost is harvested from the bottom bin, switch the bins so that the freshly mixed bin is placed on top.

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